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Williamson County continues to move forward with its COVID-19 vaccine plan, setting vaccine locations and operating help services, officials said Feb. 8.
Here are the latest updates.
Vaccine locations
County Judge Bill Gravell said vaccines will take place at the Kelly Reeves Athletic Complex, at 10211 W. Parmer Lane, Austin, Monday and Tuesday, and the Georgetown ISD Athletic Complex on Wednesday.
Only those with appointments should arrive at the centers for a vaccine.
Gravell added that at present time, the county only plans to operate the two vaccine locations as they are dependent on vaccine supply.
To find other providers, click here.
Vaccine signup and waitlist
On Feb. 8, the county took over the waitlist for the hub vaccines. It was previously operated by Family Health Systems through two separate portals due to the time distribution began, but the list has been consolidated, and the county will operate off of its single list, officials said.
Those who are eligible through Phase 1A or 1B can register at https://forms.wilco.org/Forms/CV19VaccineWaitListRegistration.
Those who have questions regarding the vaccine including if you are on the waitlist can call 512-943-1600.
The county launched the hotline Feb. 1 but was overwhelmed with calls, receiving more than 16,300 in the first three days, Gravell said. Due to this, the county has increased people and resources to this service, he said.
“We definitely want to be there for all of our residents who need someone to talk to over the phone,” Gravell said.
No jumping the line
FHS Chief Medical Director Dr. Nathaniel Greenwood said FHS and the county have been working together to address the concerns of those jumping the line for a vaccine.
Greenwood said new policies will be sent to individuals when they receive their appointment likely asking them whether they qualify for the vaccine, but exact details were not immediately available.
Both Gravell and Greenwood said they are counting on honesty from individuals when they sign up, appealing to their moral compass. However, currently Texas Department of State Health Services does not allow entities to ask individuals to prove qualifications for the vaccine.
“It’s just important that people are honest and realize that there's a plan in place to get everybody vaccinated,” Greenwood said. “We just need to do it the right way in the right timeframe, and then just believe in the system.”
“It is unethical to step in front of a senior adult to get a shot,” Gravell added. “It's important to be respectful and wait your turn.”
Gravell added that those taking vaccine information for the county have been trained in Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, policies and protocols. He said medical information will be kept safe by the county.
Need help?
For those who may need help with paperwork, the county has also set up two technical assistance centers at the Sun City Ballroom, 2 Texas Drive, Georgetown, and First Baptist Church, 2500 Mallard Lane, Taylor. On Feb. 15, the county will launch a third location at Hill Country Bible Church, 3300 Little Elm Trail, Gym Building, Cedar Park.
Time and dates are as follows:
Here, individuals can receive help filling out the required documentation so that there is not a delay in them receiving a shot.
What now?
Gravell said that the county continues to work as quickly as possible to get shots in arms but is at the will of the state, which determines how many vaccines each entity receives on a given week. He added that at the county’s current rate of receiving 8,000-10,000 vaccines a week and the county’s population of more than 200,000 individuals who qualify for 1A and 1B, it will not be around June until the county can even complete this phase of vaccinations.
He said he continues to request at least 10,000 vaccines each week.
In the meantime, the county has contracted with Curative, a COVID-19 testing company, to help administer vaccines as early as Feb. 15, and plans to work with Baylor Scott & White hospital systems to do the same once vaccines allotments are high enough to accommodate these entities.
“It's important to have public private partnerships, and everybody's kind of rowing together in the same direction,” Gravell said.
Gravell added that starting the week of Feb. 15, the county will begin the inoculation of second doses, which will cut received supply in half and potentially extend completion timelines if the county does not receive higher number of doses.
“This is a long slog, a long haul,” he said. “It's going to be complicated, and we've all got to work together.”
